But what’s the top dog in Batavia? According to research from City Clerk Heidi Parker, 159 registered dogs here are either Labs or a Lab-mix – the latter group not recorded by the AKC.

Andre Miller – a Corfu resident and president of the Genesee County Animal Shelter -- was surprised about the No. 3 ranked dog in Batavia: the Shih-Tzu.

“We don’t get many of those (coming) through (the shelter), but maybe they’re being well-taken care of," she said. "As a local groomer in the area, I do maybe a few, but not that many.”

There are 46 registered Shih-Tzu’s in the City of Batavia. Miller says they’re an appealing breed for those looking for lap dogs, even though the grooming isn’t as easy as it is for a Lab.

The AKC’s most popular dogs nationally following the Lab were German shepherds, golden retrievers,beagles, and bulldogs.

With this year’s designation, the Lab has tied the poodle for most years at the top of the organization’s registration charts. All forms of the breed – toy, miniature, and standard -- were the most popular breed from 1960-1982 and ranked 8th in 2012.

(Pictured: top - Labs come in three colors; right - Shih Tzus will have a coat like this unless it is frequently groomed)